-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League on Sunday after a 0-0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane .

A close fought affair -- which marked the 600th league appearance of Ryan Giggs -- ended with honors even despite United defender Rafael Da Silva being sent off for two bookable offences in the 74th minute .

His second yellow for a trip on Assou-Ekotto was adjudged to be deliberate , but a clearly incensed Rafael thought otherwise as he remonstrated with referee Mike Dean about the decision .

Spurs had the better chances to win the match with Rafael Van der Vaart missing a glorious opportunity to claim three points in the 80th minute after a mistake in the United defence gave him a unopposed shot on goal .

But the Dutch international could only curl his shot narrowly over the bar .

Kenny Dalglish earned the first point of his second spell in charge of Liverpool as the Merseyside derby against Everton ended in a 2-2 draw at Anfield .

Raul Meireles ' first goal for Liverpool gave the Reds a deserved lead after 30 minutes in a half in which they dominated .

But Everton hit back after the break with two goals in six minutes to take the lead .

Sylvain Distin headed home after 46 minutes and Jermaine Beckford stunned the home supporters as he drilled home past Jose Reina to hand the Toffees the lead .

But when Tim Howard brought down Maxi Rodriguez following a corner in the 66th minute , Dirk Kuyt made no mistake from the penalty spot .

Liverpool and Everton both have 26 points , with Everton one place above their rivals thanks to a superior goal difference .

In the other two matches played Sunday , the Tyneside derby ended in a 1-1 draw as Sunderland 's Asamoah Gyan scored four minutes into injury time to deny Newcastle the three points and a season double over their arch rivals .

A neat backheel by Kevin Nolan had given the Magpies the lead seven minutes into the second half .

Newcastle looked destined to win the match until the Ghanaian striker put the ball in the net after a shot from Phil Bardsley shot had been saved by Steve Harper .

Sunderland stay in sixth place , while Newcastle are ninth .

Aston Villa have moved out of the relegation zone after salvaging a 1-1 draw with local rivals Birmingham at St Andrews .

Roger Johnson volleyed home early in the second half to give the home side the lead but James Collins squared things up after 73 minutes when he drove a shot home after Gabriel Agbonlahor had flicked the ball onto him .

Birmingham remain in 16th place with 23 points on points , one place and one point ahead of Villa .

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Man U draw 0-0 with Spurs to return to the top of the Premier League on goal difference

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Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton ends in 2-2 draw at Anfield

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Newcastle and Sunderland draw 1-1 in local derby ; Aston Villa salvage point at Birmingham